papa st ##our ' s population peaked in the 19th century and has experienced a significant decline since then ( see e . g . ming ##ula ##y ) . by 1970 the island school had closed and the population had declined to sixteen ' fairly elderly ' residents , but an advertisement in exchange and mart reversed the decline . a croft and five sheep were offered free of charge to income ##rs which brought a flood of applicants . by 1981 the census recorded a population of 33 . however , by 2005 the population had fallen to 20 after serious disco ##rd between islanders led to several court cases . a number of people left the island and the school closed . by early 2008
papa stour's population peaked in the 19th century and has experienced a significant decline since then ( see e. g. mingulay ). by 1970 the island school had closed and the population had declined to sixteen'fairly elderly'residents, but an advertisement in exchange and mart reversed the decline. a croft and five sheep were offered free of charge to incomers which brought a flood of applicants. by 1981 the census recorded a population of 33. however, by 2005 the population had fallen to 20 after serious discord between islanders led to several court cases. a number of people left the island and the school closed. by early 2008